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by Esther Myers Wenzel |
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Photo by author
The Olympic bell was heard for the first time at the 1936 Olympics. According to the program it was intended to summon "the youth of the world." Courtesy of author
Kansan Harold Manning smashed a world record of the time in winning the 3,000 meter steeplechase in the final Olympic tryouts at Randall's Island Stadium in New York. He finished in 9 minutes, 8.2 seconds, securing a place on the U.S. Olympic team. Photo courtesy Wichita Eagle
The American flag (C) flies over the scoreboard honoring Jesse Owens' victory. Hitler walked out rather than salute a black man. Photo by author
The Nazi Eagle adorned the program for the opera house, but was conspicuously absent on the Olympic program. Courtesy of author |
Introduction In 1996, Larksfield resident Esther Myers Wenzel was interviewed as part of the I, Witness to History Oral History Program in Retirement Communities. The audiotape was archived at the Ablah Library at Wichita State University after a transcript was prepared. Since then, the Resource Learning Center at Larksfield has helped her develop these web pages about two specific events of popular and historical interest in her life that took place in 1936:
That summer, Miss Esther Myers, then a 20 year-old teacher from Douglass, Kansas, sailed by White Star steam ship to Europe for s student summer abroad. While there, she attended the Berlin Olympics and sent reports home to the local newspaper. Much of what she saw and heard she could not report at the time because of the strict Nazi censorship. It is edifying to compare her cheerful reports that appeared in the Kansas newspaper of the time to what she describes here, based on the private diary she kept. Her photos of the Olympics are published here for the first time, and include one of Hitler and his entourage. Clicking on the souvenir program cover at the upper left will enable you to browse the official 1936 Olympics program. The program pages are reproduced life-size for the sake of legibility and take some time to download--but they are worth it. Terryl Asla In the summer of 1936, Berlin, Germany, was the "sparkling jewel" of the European continent. The city was of course ready to entertain the world for the XI Olympiad. Bright red banners with black swastikas, flags of 52 competing nations, greenery, and flowers decorated the public buildings and the streets. The main focus for visitors who came from all parts of the world was Unter Den Linden. This was the beautiful boulevard going through the center of the city all the way to the Bradenberg Gate. The tourists and visitors came to see and applaud the finest athletes in the world. At the same time, there were uniformed troops marching here and there in the streets. Often officers strolled into hotels or business places. Museums and public buildings would often remain closed so that the visitors could watch a parade of young boys and girls in uniform. This ominous undercurrent was sensed but ignored in all the festivities. It was a unique moment in history. No other Olympic Games, before, or since, ever took place under such circumstances.
Censorship! This is a letter I sent to my father in Wichita, KS. Most of the mail I sent and received while I was in Germany was opened by the Nazi government. For the first time since the Olympic Games resumed in 1896, runners carried the lighted torch from Greece to the Olympic stadium. We were told that Hitler himself designed the torch, a fact we somehow doubted.
Hitler and his entourage, including the Mayor of Berlin on his left, enter the stadium for the opening ceremonies. Notice the unlit tripodal for the Olympic Torch in the background. Photo by author Only amateur athletes competed in the 1936 Olympics. Men and women who had distinguished themselves in events in their cities or universities could be admitted to the trials. For us, it was a joy to see Harold Manning from the University of Wichita, Archie Romani from Emporia, Kansas, and the fine runner, Glen Cunningham, compete in the prestigious races. Even if one did not win a medal, the thrill of competition in an Olympic event was reward enough. Since I had known Harold Manning from the University of Wichita, he invited me to come visit him and see the Olympic Village where all competing athletes lived during the games. Jesse Owens, the great black runner from the United States won a gold medal. To the astonishment of the crowd, Hitler and his entourage left the stadium immediately. They refused to see a black champion being rewarded with a gold medal. Women were not allowed inside the Olympic Village. They could come into the courtyard and see the buildings but could not enter the lounges, dining area, exercise rooms or dormitories. It was a privilege for me to be invited by Harold Manning into the gated courtyard for a visit. That was a highlight of the games for me. Harold Manning met me and several travel mates at the reception entrance. He was as glad to see fellow Kansans as we were to see him. After a picture taking session, Manning told us we were fortunate to be there as the three Bolivian athletes arrived. We watched a welcoming ceremony in front of the complex. The official representatives of that country gave a speech, a German Band played as they ran up the colors of Bolivia. It was an impressive ceremony.
Photo by author The Olympic Village complex of 1936 consisted of white stucco buildings with red tile roofs. Each house accommodated 27 men. Gardens, lakes and practice fields surrounded the complex. The huge dining hall had 52 different rooms. This made it possible for each country to have its own dining area so the athletes' could be served the food to which they were accustomed. There were also shops, a movie theater, and even a television theater! There were no rules as to the "hours" for the athletes. "Good judgement is sufficient," we were told. Although some of the rules were quite strict, there was none of the fear that prevails today when international athletes gather under one roof. There was one question on everyone’s mind in 1936: "What do you think about Hitler?" That was the question we asked our German friends at the balls, dinners, and entertainments . "Please don’t talk about him," we were told. "Are you a member of the Nazi Party?" we often asked someone. If the answer was negative, the reply was always a hushed "no" and "I don’t want to talk about it." However, if we went to the public cabarets to dance and eat, the young Germans would more readily talk. In the lectures we attended political leaders from other countries were quite frank about their opinions, but, expressed cautious optimism. "We fear Hitler, but there have been 36 political parties in Germany and, perhaps, now things will get better." None of the "carnival atmosphere" that prevails in the Olympics today was a part of the Berlin Games. In the center of the stadium complex was one huge restaurant where visitors could eat. On the colonnade between the two floors of the stadium, there were the shops for all kinds of memorabilia, film, cameras, Olympic flags and many pictures of Hitler and Berlin. These shops were sufficient, no other vendors were allowed. The games were all about sports. They were not a money-making business, as they are today. A poem by Robert Gordon appeared in the Wall Street Journal after the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. It read as follows:
I received a letter from my father sent by airmail all the way from Wichita, Kansas, to Berlin, Germany. He pleaded for me to return home as soon as the games were over. "War is imminent, I fear," my father wrote. But in Berlin, the festivities went on and we ignored the danger. As we prepared to leave the beautiful city, we discussed with our traveling companions just how we felt about life in Hitler’s Germany. The euphoria that was fueled by the excitement of the games, gave way to a more sober view of life. Yes, the world stood poised on the verge of war, and yet for 10 glorious days in August, 1936, joy , excitement, and friendly competition made the world forget. We watched the final Parade of States with tears streaming down our faces and as the Stars and Stripes passed by, we said, "God Bless America."
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